Kim Wilde

The 80s-the only decade where music was so much better than the craggy critics that bemoaned it, therefore only a few got their dues and Kim remains the most underrated and unappreciated of all, a somewhat baffling offence, as this was accepted at the time, if a little rudely as the "best Blondie album they never made". Aside from the fact Kim was always better, there's more own-identity here than on many first stabs-and this is no nick, but a full-on piercing. While synth was heralding a great new musical movement in 1981, Kim's debut actually is a far more guitar-driven, student-rock approach than the career-best multi-faceted syth-rock dreams that would become her following three albums. Kim's career got started with the massively overrated 'Kids In America'-in actual fact a most unremarkable song, with a monotone (if effective-ish) verse, an almost lifless, even childish chorus, and this is the song people go on about at the expense of all the other hundreds of far better things she's done! Intriguingly and correctly, this song doesn't even start the album off-it's midway down the playlist where it fulfills the odd function of belending in with far livelier, importnat pieces, yet sounds far better as part of the team than on its own, where it almost flounders. Yet 'Chequered Love'-all pounding guitar, grandly confident and teasing vocals and snappy lyrics, almost obliterates it completely and cements her and her family instant knack of melding a brilliant hook-filled all-purpose pleaser that carries a huge amount of indvidual validity that should easily appeal to the alternative scene aswell. Even moreso with the tinkling, edgy manic-tripping of 'Water On Glass'-another new wave dream and a unique choice for a single. But Kim proved another completely ignored quality here-she was an albums artists as much as a singles artist. In addition, she actually manages to pad whole albums out with many potential singles, something inaccurately taken for granted by many biggish singles acts, whose LPS don't live up to such runours. But even better is the instantly diverse approach. Alongside the 45s chart-pleaser format flows evidence of a deeper, darker, more alternative smoke billowing. Lyrically, straightfoward celebrations of youth-('Young Heroes'-sounding far more anthemic than 'Kids' ever did) and busted love-affairs are rather shockingly merged with decaying old cities, beings' souls disappearing through time into sound, and a deeply humourous and dirty tale of a small-town prostitute set to a startling ska-approach for '2-6-5-8-0'. So seamlessly do all these things work together that it may take several listens to appreciate all the many well-cogged wheels turning in place, but that's no bad thing. While the singles are class (even 'Kids' had a style and lyrics that point to far more impressive approaches on the wicked follow-up album), the risky about-turn to shiny pop impresses most. Side One's most standout track is the icy freeze of 'Everything We Know'-and it's a reggae track-yet without any hint of sun at all. Brave, impressive, risky, and brilliantly done, manipulating a style as easily as any of the male groups were doing back then. The ska song already mentioned is another style seamlessly worked into the setlist, but the last 3 songs are truly the stuff of career-building edifices. Indeed the slowly building, instantly atmopsheric strains of beautiful ballad 'You'll Never Be So Wrong' is the album's absolute template moment-pictures in your mind are conjured up instantly from Kim's voice-and it's her best vocal on the album-not bad for someone barely 20! It's a devastating haunter that etches in the mind as it fades off, pointing the way to the grand new-wave and spacious ballads to follow through the years ('Just A Feeling', 'Can You Hear It', 'Sing It Out For Love', 'Fit In'). Proof there is vast substance and depth behind the so-called sex siren pop singer look. Not surprised this was pulled from being the 'Kids' b-side (showing that song up even more then!) and given its due place on the album (as would 'Can You Hear It' two years later interestingly, though that was in better company being backed with 'Love Blonde'), and the eerie, delicious oddity non-worded chorus song 'Tuning In Tuning On' replaced it, but ends the album too, again exhibiting a direction that could go anywhere. A unique spoken passage ends it, something 'Dream Sequence' would use two years later in another song surprise. The other impressive last tune is the first ever song Kim recorded-the aggressive, straight-talking 'Falling Out'-featuring great vocals and the second song to mention a gun-who could ask for more? The attitude would get even angrier and justified on the superlative first two tracks on her next album "Select". This album comes with the two b-sides, the charmingly vivid Western-lite 'Shane' and the boppy but barely brilliant 'Boys'-it's not bad, but unsually unimportnat for an 80s Kim tune, and the last immature-sounding song she'd do for the 80s thank God, but why this became a double-A side in lieu of many terrific b-sides through the years I'll never know! Together with 'Kids', it's the least smart thing on here, but still good and easily faces up to other people's 1981 singles. The single 'Water On Glass' has a better ending than the one opening the album. The sleeve notes are detailed and appease and annoy in equal measure, becoming more unbearable reading with each following album release, as we realise just how underappreaciated, misguidedly received and ill-marketed and barely supported this poor woman quickly became. Well we know the truth-we've ears for that, and a general amount of common sense, regarding just how far from artistic vision,musical variety and boundary-pushing creativity we've now come. The Queen of music is not Madonna, it is not some desperado tart who flashes it cos it takes attention away from the dubious product she's actually pushing-apart from herself. Stastistics mean nothing, something selling bucket-loads doesn't add up to quality. The world of music never did-and never will-start with a TV show for alcopops for kids parties and dodgy karaoke dread, though they may end it. This album proves who is the real Queen and her subjects know it and remain loyal, desite their shoody treatment by her ongoing labels. And if this albums proves that (it does), the follow-ups it only prove it more. Christ Kim's lovely rear must be smarting like hell, she's been on that throne so long. And still no takers!

I have all of the Cherry records re releases of Kim's albums and I think they are all very well done. The artwork on this particular album is excellent and the song lyrics are included. This album is arguably Kim's finest, being her debut album and featuring her most well known and debut hit 'Kids in America' it is/was her most important album release. I was only 2 when Kim Wilde first appeared on the music scene, my Dad bought her records and I've grown up with it. I own or have owned (pinched from my Dad) pretty much every Kim Wilde album or single release on CD, Vinyl and cassette at some point during my life. I will say that this album to me sounds very fresh today and the theme here is slightly edgy/rocky compared to Kim's later releases. The Cherry records remastering sounds good and better than I remember the original version. This album Played on my Sony/NAD/B&W separates system sounds much fuller and warmer than the same tracks on Kim's 1981-1993 Singles Collection album which to me sounds a little thin and lacking some vitality in direct comparison. The stand out tracks for me on this album are 'Water on Glass', 'Chequered Love', '2-6-5-8-0', 'You'll Never Be So Wrong' and of course the all to famous 'Kids In America'. It all sounds, bright, bouncy, edgy and very catchy! If you're a Kim Wilde fan you must own this her first and possibly most important album. The added bonus tracks, and CD Text facility (if your CD player supports it) from Cherry pop are also nice touches! Just buy it!

This album is wonderful and it introduced the world to Kim Wilde back in 1981 with the sensational lead single 'Kids In America' the new remastered edition is amazing the bonus tracks are great and the sound quality is outstanding I love the song 'Tuning In, Tuning On' which was the B-Side to 'Kids In America' infact I adore every song on the album.

If you’re looking for the definitive version of this album, this is as close as you’re going to get. It’s never sounded better than here, but note the album was never a sonic marvel in the first place. The DVD isn’t overlong, but it’s fun and of decent quality. The packaging is lovely too. It’s a little overpriced, but worth it in my opinion.

When this album was released in 1981, it seemed Kim Wilde was the new Debbie Harry. Look at the album sleeve; black background with a white font across the top. Just glance at the sleeves of 'Plastic Letters', or 'Blondie' from a few years back to prove it. A big hit with Kids in America launched this album reaching no.2 in the UK, followed by Chequered Love. Water On Glass was the third single by which point she was established as a bright new star. Don't be fooled by the three singles though. The rest of album nods to a range of styles including light ska in Everything We Know. Kim's albums always had a range with could be surprisingly less commercial than you'd imagine. You'll Never Be So Wrong being an example, a remorseful song some distance away from the thrill of the singles. Almost 30 years on this album still sounds fun. It's bright, youthful, and if you appreciate the synth sound of Ricky Wilde, this is the where it kicked off. If you are interested in Kim Wilde this is a great place to start. Wilde wasn't all about the catchy hits, and here reveals a little of the other, slightly darker side of Kim balanced well beside those classic early hits. Kim Wilde

Beautiful release on Limited Yellow Vinyl. Great debut album from one of Englands finest pop singers and treasures Kim Wilde!

I was pleased they re mastered her early albums and this being her first still sounds as fresh as ever.my favourite tracks which stand out for me are Everything We Know,You'll Never Be So Wrong,Water On Glass and 2-6-5-8-0. This cd is nicely finished of with lyrics booklet containing sleeve notes and pics.Great. All we need now is the DVD!

Here is a superb album, of some of the best of KW, she was and still is the pop queen of the 1980's.

Le premier album de Kim Wilde est excellent, cette version remasterisée 2 CD plus DVD de 2020 est très bien, il y a des remixes, des versions étendues des versions 7'' et des versions instrumentales. Sur le DVD, il y a deux clips, des lives et une version shower non utilisée de Chequered Love. C'est une très belle édition à posséder.

何といってもこの音の素晴らしさに驚きました。ボーカルもクリアで良いのですが、何より演奏がグッと前に出ています。直近(2009年)リマスター盤を持っていても今回の3作は是非揃えることをお勧めします。 各作品に1曲は初めて耳にする曲もあり、そちらもサプライズで嬉しい限りです。 CD2の厚みのあるアレンジも素晴らしく、当時流行った これでもかという程のリミックスは懐かしくもあり新鮮でもあります。なおCD2はインストが三分の一を締めているので、彼女のボーカルは少なめです。 DVDは、初々しい彼女を観られますが全く笑っていませんｗ それが当時の売りだったのでしょう。思えば、日本のアイドルとは真逆なアピールは パンク直後の影響か流石に本場です。しかし、音質は悪く クチパクなので、DVDは”おまけ”と考えた方が良いでしょう。（PAL方式のためゲーム機で観ました。）

What can I say. It was good then and it’s good now. Classic New Age music. Too bad she went the pop dance route after this. She is always good but this album has a moody feel that is unique.

Adorei.

Kids in America was my favourite radio song way back when. Back then, I didn't pay attention to who the artists were, but I never forgot the song. It took me 40 years and thanks to 'outube, I finally listened to the album and I love it! So, this is going up on my wall, just because. Product arrived safe and sound.